Factsheet for measure
LT-2022-13/2359
–
Updated
– measures in Lithuania
Food cards for Ukrainian refugees
Maisto kortelės karo pabėgėliams iš Ukraino
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Country
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Lithuania
, applies nationwide
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Time period
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Open ended, started on 23 March 2022
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Context
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War in Ukraine
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Type
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Other initiatives or policies
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Category
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Measures to prevent social hardship
– Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers)
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Author
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Rasa Mieziene, Inga Blaziene (Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences)
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Measure added
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20 May 2022 (updated 02 March 2025)
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Background information
On 23 March 2022, the food charity organisation Food Bank (FB) launched an initiative in Lithuania, offering €115 worth FB cards to Ukrainian war refugees who are food insecure. Ukrainian citizens will be able to use these cards for buying food in a Lithuanian supermarkets. According to the organisers of the initiative, such support gives people more freedom, and everyone will be able to buy food according to their individual needs.
Content of measure
Food cards are given to people who arrived in Lithuania from Ukraine and registered with the Migration Department (MD) no earlier than 24 February 2022. To receive a food card, the person must have an ILTU code (which is a code for aliens with interests in Lithuania) issued by the Migration Department and fill out a form on the Food Bank webpage. After filling out the form, the Ukrainian war refugee receives a notification where and when he/she can collect the food card. Holders of the card can buy food in stores belonging to one of the retail chains in the municipality of residence. The cards are given to each person and the family receives as many cards as the number of persons registered in the system.
In addition to the food cards, the Food Bank also provides other support to Ukrainians by distributing food packages and sending food and other products donated by business entities to Ukraine.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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23 February 2023
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As of 23 February 2023, the procedure for food cards issued by FB for Ukrainians has changed. From 27 February 2023, Ukrainians registered on www.maistobankas.lt/ukraina will be issued cards worth €20, topped up weekly with an additional €20 if the war refugee has not yet obtained a residence permit
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Use of measure
According to the Food Bank, on 11 April 2022, a total of 30,000 food cards were distributed to Ukrainians. The Food Bank has already spent around €1.1 million on the purchase of the cards. These funds were donated by Lithuanian people. A further 17,000 cards are planned to be purchased with State funds.
In addition to the food cards, the Food Bank has already distributed more than 26,000 food packages to Ukrainians in Lithuania and sent 17 vans with water, food and pet food to Ukraine.
Target groups
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Workers
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Businesses
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Citizens
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Does not apply to workers
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Does not apply to businesses
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Migrants or refugees
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Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)
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Companies
National funds
Other
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Informed
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Informed
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level
Involvement
No information available.
Views and reactions
No information available.
Sources
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24 March 2022: Food cards for people who have fled the war (Nuo karo veiksmų pabėgusiems žmonėms – maisto kortelės)
(socmin.lrv.lt)
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11 April 2022: Food Bank distributes cards to Ukrainians: 12,000 people have already applied for them („Maisto bankas“ dalina korteles ukrainiečiams: norinčių jas gauti jau dvylika tūkstančių)
(www.maistobankas.lt)
